Powder coating compositions for low temperature curing and high flow

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to powder coating compositions and to components and ingredients for incorporation therein, suitable for low temperature curing schedule and with excellent resistance to outside aging. The powder coating composition can be cured at a temperature from 140° C. to lead to a coating with excellent flow and high gloss.

This application claims the benefit of PCT Application PCT/EP2009/008928with International Filing Date of Dec. 14, 2009, published as WO2010/069531 A1, which further claims priority to European PatentApplication No. 08075956.6 filed Dec. 19, 2008, the entire contents ofboth are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention relates to powder coating compositions and tocomponents and ingredients for incorporation therein, suitable for lowtemperature curing schedule, with excellent flow of the coating, goodflexibility, no blooming phenomenon and resistance to outside aging.

Powder coating technology is generally a well-known and well defined artand has significant advantages over “wet” technologies for painting andspraying. The principle behind thermoset powder coating decoration isthat the powder coating is formulated by dispersing coloring agents orpigments within a matrix of cross-linkable material, grinding thematerial to a powder, applying the powder to a surface to be coated andthen heating or baking to cause the powder particles to coalesce to forma layer on the surface to be decorated and thereafter causing orallowing curing or crosslinking to take place to form a thermoset layer.Based on these principles the skilled artisan is always searching thebest compromise between cure/production cost and appearance of thethermoset coating. Recently, the industry has showed an interest inlower curing temperature for environmental and economical reasons.

A major challenge in the development of powder coatings, for thispurpose, is the need to satisfy a number of seemingly conflictingrequirements. One of the essential requirements of a powder coating isthat it should be curable/cross-linkable. In the majority of cases thismeans the incorporation of a cross-linking agent and the increase of themelt viscosity over the bake period. It is desirable that the bakingshould be as efficient as possible to minimize energy costs. The flow ofthe coating is determined by the viscosity build-up of the thermosettingcomposition during the curing, if the increase of viscosity occurs at atoo early stage in the baking process, it will have as result that thepowder particles will not have fully coalesced and “leveled”. This willresult in the production of an article with an unacceptable finish,usually characterized by “orange peel”.

A thermosetting powder coating with outstanding properties for exteriorend applications is typically based on a polyester resin. Polyesterpowder coatings are typically formulated with polyepoxide or betahydroxyalkyl amide type cross-linking compounds. The technologysurrounding these materials is generally well known and has beendiscussed and considered in a number of articles and prior patentspecifications.

Attempts have thus been made to design polyester resins bearing carboxylgroups with a reduced initial melt viscosity and/or the reactivity ofthe thermoset composition or by the use of additives.

Patent EP 0 322 834, for example, describes thermosetting powdercompositions essentially containing a polyester bearing carboxyl groupsand a beta-hydroxyalkylamide, which is applied to a substrate and isthen crosslinked at a temperature of 160 to 200° C. Despite the presenceof benzoin as additive in these compositions, which is added asdegassing agent, the bubbles of water and air remain trapped in thehardened coating after it has melted and crosslinked, especially if thecoating is relatively thick. In addition, the flow of the powder when itmelts is not optimal.

Patent application WO 91/14745 describes thermosetting powdercompositions containing an amorphous polyester containing carboxylgroups, a semi-crystalline polyester containing carboxyl groups and acrosslinking agent. 10 to 40% by weight of the semi-crystallinepolyester is preferably used relative to the polyesters as a whole, andthe crosslinking agent can be a beta-hydroxyalkylamide. The presence ofthe semi-crystalline polyester in these compositions improves themechanical properties of the coatings they provide. However, thepresence of these semi-crystalline polyesters also increases the rate ofhardening of these compositions, which could be a factor which disfavorsthe satisfactory flowing and degassing of these compositions when theymelt, leading to surface defects in the coatings.

Patent application EP 0 668 895 also describes thermosetting powdercompositions containing a polyester bearing carboxyl groups and abeta-hydroxyalkylamide. The polyesters of that patent application have afunctionality of carboxyl groups of less than 2, obtained by addingmonofunctional acids or alcohols during the synthesis of the polyester.By virtue of this reduced functionality, the polyester is less reactive,which makes the powder flow better when it melts and allows the bubblesof air and of water vapor to escape from the coating before it hardens,unlike the compositions in patent applications EP 0 322 834 and WO91/14745. However, since the polyester contains chain ends which do notbear a reactive group, these ends do not participate in the formation ofthe three-dimensional network during the crosslinking of the powder,thus reducing the resistance to solvents and the flexibility of thecoatings thus obtained.

The EP 1 054 917 claims to solve the above drawbacks of using abeta-hydroxyalkylamide as crosslinker by incorporation of tertiarycarboxyl groups as reactive groups in the polyester resins. The saidcompositions provide coatings with excellent surface appearance, goodflexibility and good resistance to poor weather conditions due to thelower reactivity and which induces a longer cure schedule.

As can be appreciated, it is not easy to find a thermosetting powdercomposition which by itself combines all the qualities which it would bedesired to find therein, such as good stability in storage, good flowingwhen melting in order to give it a smooth, and glossy appearance whichhas no orange-peel skin or bubbles, good flexibility, at the same timeas good resistance to solvents, to aggressive weather exposure and allof this at a low temperature curing.

The present invention seeks to provide powder coating compositionsexhibiting low temperature curing but which fulfill the qualityrequirement of coating such as flow, flexibility and HSE legislations.

We have found, surprisingly, that low temperature cure and good flowcould be achieved, provided that the polyester resin compositioncomprises:

-   -   (1) Polyols,    -   (2) Diacids,    -   (3) Fatty acids.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apolymeric composition suitable for use as a vehicle for a powder coatingcomposition which comprises: a composition in that the acid/alcohol moleratio is higher than 1 and with an acid value of higher than 15 mgKOH/g.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apolymeric composition suitable for use as a vehicle for a powder coatingcomposition which comprises: a composition of in that the acid/alcoholmole ratio is lower that 1 and with a hydroxyl value of higher than 25mg KOH/g.

A preferable composition in that polyester resin comprises:

-   -   (1) 0.1 to 60 weight percent of mono or poly-functional satured        or unsatured fatty acids of mixtures of them,    -   (2) 30 to 60 weight percent of an aromatic diacid or cycloalkyl        diacids or anhydride,    -   (3) 20 to 30 weight percent of aliphatic diol,    -   (4) 0 to 6 weight percent of aliphatic triol,    -   (5) 0 to 10 weight percent of isosorbide and isomers or        cycloalkyl diol,    -   (6) 0 to 10 weight percent of C₃-C₁₂ aliphatic diacid, and    -   with total weight percent of the monomers equal to 100.

A more preferred composition in that polyester resin comprises

-   -   (1) 0.5 to 30 weight percent of mono or poly-functional satured        or unsatured fatty acids of mixtures of them,    -   (2) 30 to 60 weight percent of an aromatic diacid or cycloalkyl        diacid or anhydride,    -   (3) 20 to 30 weight percent of aliphatic diol,    -   (4) 0 to 6 weight percent of aliphatic triol,    -   (5) 0 to 10 weight percent of isosorbide and isomers or        cycloalkyl diol,    -   (6) 0 to 10 weight percent of C₃-C₁₂ aliphatic diacid, and    -   with total weight percent of the monomers equal to 100.

The above composition with the aromatic diacid, cycloalkyl diacid oranhydride selected from the group consisting of isophthalic acid (IPA),terephthalic acid (TPA), phthalic anhydride (PA), trimellitic anhydride(TMA), furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), cyclohexandicarboxilic acid(CHDA), hexahydrophtalic anhydride (HHPA).

The melt viscosity (ICI) at 200° C. of the polyester resin is from 1500to 12000 mPa·s and a Tg of above 35° C. but lower than 70° C.

The powder formulation based on the above acid functional polyesterresin is then combined with a curative selected from a non-isocyanuratepolyepoxide or beta-hydroxyalkylamide or triglycidyl-isocyanurate orepoxy resins (glycidyl ethers of Bisphenol A & F or epoxy novolacresins, glycidyl esters and mixtures thereof) in a weight percent (ontotal polyester resin and curative) of 2.5 to 50.

Another aspect of the invention is that when the polyester resin has anhydroxyl functionality the curative is selected from trimer ofisophorone diisocyanate, trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate,caprolactam-blocked polyisocyanate or self blocked uretdiones in aweight percent (on total polyester resin and curative) of 8 to 65.

Slight variations above and below the stated ranges can be used toachieve substantially the same results as values within the ranges.Also, the disclosure of the ranges is intended as a continuous rangeincluding every value between the minimum and maximum values.

In the tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 below, we compared the polyester recipes andfinal resin physical and chemical properties for different curativesystems.

In table 5 below, we listed the powder coating formulations in Primid(93/7 and 95/5 ratios) and TGIC systems.

In the tables 6, 7 and 8 the application performances of the previouspowder coatings in three different curing conditions: 10′ @ 180° C., 10′@ 160° C. and 30′@ 140° C. are given.

In the application tests at 10′@160° C. curing condition (table 7) wedisclosed worse results for 95/5 than for 93/7 Primid system,particularly in flexibility and for TGIC system for coating appearanceand toxicological labeling.

In table 8, we compared some 93/7 Primid system powder coatings in themost demanding curing condition: 30′@140° C. Comparative examples I, L,M are conventional resins and examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are formulationswith fatty acids to prove better low temperature cure performanceresults.

The polymeric vehicle of the invention is formulated to provide acoating binder with desirable hardness, flexibility, solvent resistance,corrosion resistance, weatherability and gloss. The enhancement of theseproperties depends on the optimization and balancing of factorsincluding monomer composition, T_(g) of the resin, type and amount ofcrosslinking agent, curing conditions, curing catalysts, and type andamount of pigments, fillers and additives. The reactivity is increasedwithout sacrificing chemical storage stability or causing poor flow ofthe film.

The coatings compositions of this invention exhibit remarkable storagestability, smooth surface appearance, high gloss, and excellentmechanical properties which are maintained over time. It will beappreciated by skilled people in the powder coating industry, that anexcellent balance among stability and the flow of the cured film andweather-ability and mechanical properties imparted by the use ofcompositions in accordance with the invention are important factors ofcommercial importance.

The powder coating compositions of the invention are cured at atemperature lower than 180° C. and higher than 100° C. and preferablybetween 160° C. and 140° C.

As used herein “coating binder” is the polymeric portion of a coatingfilm after baking and after crosslinking.

“Polymeric vehicle” means all polymeric and resinous componentsincluding crosslinking agents in the formulated coating; i.e. beforefilm formation. Pigments and additives may be mixed with the polymericvehicle to provide a formulated powder coating composition.

“Diol” is a compound with two hydroxyl groups. “Polyol” is a compoundwith two or more hydroxyl groups.

“Diacid” is a compound with two carboxyl groups. “Polyacid” is acompound with two or more carboxyl groups.

As used in this application, “polymer” means a polymer with repeatingmonomeric units as defined herein.

A “film” is formed by application of the formulated coating compositionto a base or substrate, and crosslinked.

Acid number or acid value means the number of milligrams of potassiumhydroxide required for neutralization of free acids present in 1 g ofresin. Hydroxyl number of value that is also called acetyl value is anumber that indicates the extent to which a substance may be acetylated;it is the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required forneutralization of the acetic acid liberated on saponifying 1 g ofacetylated sample.

The polyesters useful in the practice of the invention arethermosettable carboxyl terminated polymers, suitable for formulation ofthermosetting powder coatings with epoxide bearing compounds orbeta-hydroxyalkylamide. This implies that the polyesters have asufficiently high glass transition temperature to resist sintering whenin powder form and subjected to normally encountered field conditions.The polyester of the present invention has a glass transitiontemperature T_(g) greater than or equal to 44° C., when determined bydifferential scanning calorimetry employing a heat-up rate of 10° C. perminute in a nitrogen atmosphere; the value is taken at the second run.

As the number average molecular weight of the carboxylated polyester andthe hydroxyl value of the hydroxyl terminated polyester vary, the numberof equivalents of diacid necessary to react with the hydroxyl terminatedpolyester also will vary. The resulting carboxyl terminated polyesterhas an acid value in the range of from 14 to 60, and a number averagemolecular weight in the range of from 2000 to 15000.

For the preparation of the thermosetting powder compositions of theinvention, the polyester and the curing compound and various auxiliarysubstances conventionally used for the manufacture of powder paints andvarnishes are mixed homogeneously. This homogenization is carried outfor example by melting the polyester, the polyepoxide compound and thevarious auxiliary substances at a temperature within the range of from90 to 100° C., preferably in an extruder, for example a Buss-Ko-Kneaderextruder or a twin-screw extruder of the Werner-Pfleiderer or BakerPerkins type. The extrudate is then allowed to cool, and is ground andsieved to obtain a powder, having a particle size of 10 to 120micrometers.

The auxiliary substances which can be added to the thermosettingcompositions according to the invention include ultraviolet lightabsorbing compounds such as Tinuvin 928 (from CIBA—SpecialtiesChemicals), light stabilizers based on sterically hindered amines (forexample Tinuvin 144 from CIBA—Specialties Chemicals), phenolicantioxidants (for example Irganox 1010 from CIBA—Specialties Chemicals)and stabilizers of the phosphonite or phosphite type (for exampleIrgafos 168 or P-EPQ from CIBA—Specialties Chemicals) (Tinuvin, Irganox,Irgafos are Trademarks). A variety of pigments may also be added to thethermosetting compositions according to the invention. Examples ofpigments that may be employed in the invention are metal oxides such astitanium dioxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide and the like, metal hydroxides,metal powders, sulfides, sulfates, carbonates, silicates such asaluminum silicate, carbon black, talc, china clays, barytes, iron blues,lead blues, organic reds, organic maroons and the like. Auxiliarysubstances may also include flow control agents such as Fluidep F 630(from COMIEL) Resiflow PV88 (from WORLEE), Modaflow (from Cytec),Acronal 4F (from BASF) (Fluidep, Resiflow, Modaflow, Acronal aretrademarks) plasticizers such as dicyclohexyl phthalate, triphenylphosphate, grinding aids, degassing agents such as benzoin and fillers.These auxiliary substances are added in conventional amounts, it beingunderstood that if the thermosetting compositions of the inventions areused as clear coatings, opacifying auxiliary substances should beomitted.

The ground powder paint composition may be applied to the substrate byany of the known means of application. After coating, the depositedlayer is cured by heating in an oven. While typically curing is effectedat a temperature of 180° C. in order to obtain sufficient crosslinkingto provide the required coating properties, the compositions of theinvention may be cured at lower temperature, for example by maintaininga temperature 160° C. or even 140° C. The decrease of curing temperatureis economically and technically advantageous since it permits to saveenergy costs and it offers the possibility to work with substrate thatare less thermal resistant than steel.

Another advantage of the invention is that the coatings prepared fromthe compositions containing the polyesters according to the inventionhave a combination of outstanding properties. Improving the appearanceof coatings applied as powders to be equivalent to the quality liquidcoating finishes is an important consideration, and the presentinvention provides coatings with excellent appearance. Whileconventional coatings can be applied as relatively low viscosity liquidsto give smooth films after removal of water and/or solvents, appliedpowder particles must melt, flow, wet the substrate, and coalesce andlevel to form a continuous film. The polymeric vehicle of the presentinvention is effective for providing a stable melt viscosity and flow.

While solvent/water based coatings can utilize polymer systems with aT_(g) even below room temperature, the T_(g) of a coating powder resinmust be above 45° C. in order to possess acceptable non sinteringcharacteristics. If the T_(g) of the coating is high enough, sinteringcan be avoided. However, coalescing and leveling at the lowest possibletemperature are promoted by reducing T_(g). If the stability of theformulated composition is to be maintained in storage without partialcuring, then the T_(g) must be maintained at a sufficient level, i.e.greater than 44° C. The present invention optimizes T_(g) in combinationwith other factors to provide good coalescence and leveling of thecoating prior to cure, whilst not sacrificing storage stability of theformulated powder coating.

The following examples should be understood to be illustrative of thescope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

The present invention is further defined in the following examples. Itshould be understood that these examples are given by way ofillustration only. From the above discussion and these examples, oneskilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of thisinvention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, canmake various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it tovarious uses and conditions. As a result, the present invention is notlimited by the illustrative examples set forth herein below, but ratheris defined by the claims contained herein below.

GENERAL PREPARATION PROCEDURE Example a (Composition According to theInvention) Single-Stage Synthesis of Carboxyl and Hydroxyl Resin:

First stage 27.0 parts of D-Isosorbide are placed in a flask undernitrogen and with stirring with 11.4 parts of neopentilglycol 90%, 7.3parts of terephthalic acid, 30.9 parts of isophtalic acid, 3.4 parts ofadipic acid, 19.9 parts of satured 80/20 dimer/trimer fatty acid and 0.1part of MBTO as catalyst and heated to 245° C. The reaction is continuedat 245° C. until the distillation under atmospheric pressure stops thenthe content of the flask is placed under vacuum (residual pressure 50mmHg) until the polyester obtained has the following characteristics:Acid number 34.2 mg KOH/g, ICI viscosity at 200° C. 3280 mPa·s, Tg (DSC;10° C./min) 53° C., Mw 11348 and Gardner Holdt color as a 50 wt. %solution in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is 3.

Accordingly to the procedure as described for the example a, thepolyesters of examples b, c, d, e, f, g and h are prepared (compositionsand properties are given in Tables 1 and 2).

Example I Two-Stage Synthesis of Carboxyl Resin:

First stage 36.6 parts of neopentilglycol 90% are placed in a flaskunder nitrogen and with stirring with 1.9 parts of Trimethylolpropane,42.6 parts of terephthalic acid, 5.4 parts of isophtalic acid, 0.1 partof MBTO as catalyst and heated to 245° C. The reaction is continued atatmospheric pressure until a prepolymer containing hydroxyl groups isthus obtained which has the following characteristics: acid number mgKOH/g, ICI viscosity at 200° C. 605 mPa·s. Second stage 4.8 parts ofadipic acid, 8.4 parts of isophthalic and 0.2 parts oftrimethylolpropane are added at 220° C. to the prepolymer obtained inthe first stage. The reaction is continued at 245° C. until thedistillation under atmospheric pressure stops then the content of theflask is placed under vacuum (residual pressure 50 mmHg) until thepolyester obtained has the following characteristics: Acid number 49.4mg KOH/g, ICI viscosity at 200° C. 4020 mPa·s, Tg (DSC; 10° C./min) 58°C., Mw 13673 and Gardner Holdt color as a 50 wt. % solution inN-methyl-2-pyrrolidone of less than 1.

Accordingly the procedure as described in the example I, the polyestersof examples L, M, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are prepared (compositions andproperties are given in Tables 3 and 4). The examples I, L, M arecompositions according the prior art and the examples 1 to 5 arecompositions according to the invention.

TABLE 1 Resin composition of examples a, b, c, d, e, f, g and haccording to the invention a b c d e f g h D-isosorbide 27.0 37.2 37.228.6 18.7 18.7 18.7 26.3 MEG 0 0.0 0.0 5.9 9.6 9.6 9.6 0Trimethylolpropane 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 4.7 neopenthylglycol 90%11.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.6 terephthalic acid 7.3 0.0 0.0 40.538.6 38.6 38.6 7.1 isophthalic acid 30.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 29.4CHDA 0.0 43.3 43.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 Lauric Acid 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.5 0.0 0.00.0 0 Unsatured dimer fatty 0 19.1 19.1 13.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 acid Satureddimer/trimer 19.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.6 19.2 fatty acid Unsatureddimer/trimer 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.6 0.0 0 fatty acid Satured dimerfatty 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.6 0.0 0.0 0 acid Adipic acid 3.4 0.0 0.0 0.00.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 TNH 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 MBTO 0.1 0 0 0.1 0.10.1 0.1 0.1 N.A. (mgKOH/g) * 34.2 33.2 33.2 27.4 20.1 24.5 24.9 8.7NOH(mgKOH/g) ** 12.5 9.5 9.5 n.a 4.5 3.5 5.4 61.4 ICI Vix at 200° C.3280 12000 12000 6000 4350 4380 4260 7300 (mPa · s) * acid value; **Hydroxyl value

TABLE 2 Properties of the examples a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h Appearanceclear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear Colour 50% DMF 3 9 9 8 37/8 3 2/3 Gel Time 180° C. * 2′29″ n.a n.a 3′00″ 2′50″ 2′50″ 1′53″ 5′50″Primid Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy NCO 95/5 60/40 60/40 60/40 60/40 Tg (DSC)midpoint (° C.) 53.4 51 51 56.5 45.9 51.5 51.6 44.3 Mw 11348 13108 131089316 17606 18196 17680 90421 * gel time from blend resin/curative. Epoxy= solid Bisphenol A epoxy resin, NCO = blocked isocyanate

TABLE 3 Resin composition of comparative examples I, L, M, and examples1-5 according to the invention. Comparatives Invention Polyester resin IL M 1 2 3 4 5 1^(st) stage CHDM 0 0 0 0 0 6.1 0.0 0 D-isosorbide 0 0 0 55.7 0 0.0 0 Trimethylolpropane 1.9 1.9 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.5 0.5neopenthylglycol 90% 36.6 36.7 38 30.3 30.7 29.5 36.9 37.4 terephthalicacid 42.6 36.7 34.6 34.9 35.7 38.4 37.6 38 isophthalic acid 5.4 11.119.5 11 9 8.1 7.9 8.0 MBTO 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 N.A.(mgKOH/g) 10 10 8.6 9.1 9.3 9.6 6.5 7.3 ICI Vix at 200° C. 650 650 3601260 730 880 1000 800 (mPa · s) 2^(nd) stage adipic acid 4.8 4.8 6.7 2.10 0 0.0 0 isophthalic acid 8.4 8.4 0 7.2 9.6 12.3 12.0 12.3 Satureddimer/trimer 0 0 0 8.5 8.4 4.4 4.3 0 fatty acid Lauric acid 0 0 0 0 0 00 3 Trimethylolpropane 0.2 0.3 0 0 0 0.2 0.7 0.7 CHDM: cyclohexanedimethanol CHDA: cyclohexane diacid

TABLE 4 Properties of the comparative examples I, L, M, examples 1-5 andexamples a, b and c according to the invention PRIMID 93/7 PRIMID 93/7PRIMID 95/5 TGIC Comparatives Invention Invention Inv. Polyester resin IL M 1 2 3 4 5 a b c Appearance clear clear clear clear clear clear clearclear clear clear clear Colour 50% DMF <1 <1 <1 4/5 4 4 2 2 3 9 9 Acidvalue 49.4 50.7 51.1 49.8 53.2 51.6 50.7 50.2 34.2 33.2 33.2 ViscosityC&P 4020 4000 1820 2430 2850 3330 2600 2360 3280 12000 12000 200° C.(mPa · s) Gel Time 180° C. * 1′34″ 1′20″ 2′26″ 1′40″ 1′29″ 2′20″ 1′55″2′40″ 2′29″ n.a n.a Tg (DSC) midpoint 58 54 51.3 52.4 58.1 62 58.6 53.153.4 51 51 (° C.) Mw 13673 14900 n.d. 11137 9914 10128 12294 10893 1134813108 13108 * gel time from blend resin/curative

TABLE 5 Powder formulations Comparatives Invention Polyester resin I L M1 2 3 4 5 a b c Polyester resin weight 302.2 302.2 302.2 302.2 302.2302.2 302.2 302.2 308.7 451.2 398.0 Primid XL 552 22.8 22.8 22.8 22.822.8 22.8 22.8 22.8 16.3 23.8 0.0 TGIC 33.0 Masterbatch TEP 0.0 44.0Resiflow PV 88 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 7.3 7.3 Benzoin 2.02.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Kronos 2160 168 168 168 168 168168 168 168 168 1.7 1.7 Hostaperm yellow H3G 9.2 9.2 Hostaperm Green GNX1.4 1.4 Colortherm 10 3.4 3.4 Total Weight 500 500 500 500 500 500 500500 500 500 500 Polyester/Crosslinker 93:7  93:7  93:7  93:7  93:7 93:7  93:7  93:7  95:5  95:5  93:7  Pigment/Binder 35:65 35:65 35:6535:65 35:65 35:65 35:65 35:65 35:65 5:95 5:95 Stability 24 h at 40° C.good− good− bad good−−− good good+ good good− good− good−− good−−

TABLE 6 Coating properties cured 10 min at 180° C. ComparativesInvention Polyester Resin I L M 1 2 3 4 5 a b c Thickness μ 70/80 70/8060/70 80/90 65/75 70/80 70/80 70/80 60/70 70/80 80/90 Appearance goodgood good good good good good good good good orange peel Flow PCI 5/65/6 5/6 7 6   6−   6−   6− 6/7   7−  1 Gloss 60°/20° 96/83 94/78 94/7294/84 94/84 95/84 96/81 94/80 94/85 92/83 90/50 MEK (0-5) 5 is the best  5− 4/5   5− 5 4/5   5−  5 4/5 4   3+   5− Yellowing b value    5.085.68    4.27 6.59 5.77    5.83    4.71    4.5 3.8 n.a n.a Impact QD- 36Dir. 200 200 140 200 200 200 200 140 160 160 160 Rev. 200 160 140 200200 200 200 140 160 160 160

TABLE 7 Coating properties cured 10 min at 160° C. ComparativesInvention Polyester Resin I L M 1 2 3 4 5 a b c Thickness μ 70/80 70/8070/80 80/90 70/80 70/80 70/80 70/80 65/75 75/85 80/90 Appearance goodgood good good good good good good good good orange peel Flow PCI 5/65/6 5/6 7  6   6−   6−   6− 6/7 7  1 Gloss 60°/20° 94/81 96/84 95/7895/86 95/86 96/87 97/83 95/85 93/86 92/84 79/30 MEK (0-5) 5 is the best(3)/4   3/4   4+ 5   4−   4− (4)-5  4−  3+ 0   5− Yellowing b value 4.194.61    3.11 5.70    5.00    4.62    3.68    3.35   3.4 n.a n.a ImpactQD-36 Dir. 20 20 160 200 120 200 100 40 10 0 160 Rev. 10 10 120 180  50160 120 20  0 0 140

TABLE 8 Coating properties cured 30 min at 140° C. PRIMID 93/7Comparatives PRIMID 93/7 Invention Polyester resins I L M 1 2 3 4 5Thickness μ 70/80 70/80 60/70 80/90 70/80 70/80 70/80 70/80 Appearancegood good good good good good good good Flow PCI 5/6 5/6 5/6  7 6   6− 6−  6− Gloss 60°/20° 80/70 90/80 93/78 95/88 95/85 95/86 94/85 94/80MEK (0-5) 5 is the best 3/4 3/4  3+  4− (3)/4   3/4 (3)-4  3+ Yellowingb value 2.96 3.28    3.04    4.89 4.07    3.37    3.36    3.25 ImpactQD- 36 Dir. 50 10 20 80 80 160 20 40 Rev. 30 10  0 80 80 200 10 20Impact resistance evaluated according ASTM D 2794

These results clearly show that the thermosetting powder compositions inaccording with the invention have advantageous characteristics comparedto those obtained from compositions of the prior art (Comparativeexamples I, L and M).

1. A powder coating composition comprising a polyester resin whichcomprises (1) Polyols, (2) Diacids, (3) Fatty acids. and from 4 to 65weight percent of a curative and additives, wherein the weight percentis based on the total weight of the polyester resin and curative.
 2. Thepowder coating composition of claim 1 wherein the polyester resincomprises (1) 0.1 to 60 weight percent of mono or poly-functionalsaturated or unsaturated fatty acids or mixtures thereof, (2) 30 to 60weight percent of an aromatic diacid or cycloalkyl diacids or anhydridesthereof, (3) 20 to 30 weight percent of aliphatic diol, (4) 0 to 6weight percent of aliphatic triol, (5) 0 to 10 weight percent ofisosorbide and isomers or cycloalkyl diol, (6) 0 to 10 weight percent ofC₃-C₁₂ aliphatic diacid, and with total weight percent of the monomersequal to
 100. 3. The powder coating composition of claim 1 wherein anacid/alcohol mole ratio is higher than 1 and with an acid value ofhigher than 15 mg KOH/g.
 4. The powder coating composition of claim 3wherein the acid/alcohol mole ratio in lower that 1 and with a hydroxylvalue of higher than 25 mg KOH/g.
 5. The powder coating composition ofclaim 1 wherein the polyester resin comprises: (1) 0.5 to 30 weightpercent of mono or poly-functional saturated or unsaturated fatty acidsof mixtures of them, (2) 30 to 60 weight percent of an aromatic diacidor cycloalkyl diacid or anhydride, (3) 20 to 30 weight percent ofaliphatic diol, (4) 0 to 6 weight percent of aliphatic triol, (5) 0 to10 weight percent of isosorbide and isomers or cycloalkyl diol, (6) 0 to10 weight percent of C₃-C₁₂ aliphatic diacid, and with total weightpercent of the monomers equal to
 100. 6. The powder coating compositionof claim 2 wherein the aromatic diacid, cycloalkyl diacid or anhydridethereof is selected from the group consisting of isophthalic acid (IPA),terephthalic acid (TPA), phthalic anhydride (PA), trimellitic anhydride(TMA), furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), cyclohexandicarboxilic acid(CHDA), hexahydrophtalic anhydride (HHPA) and combinations thereof. 7.The powder coating composition of claim 1 wherein the melt viscosity(ICI) at 200° C. of the polyester resin is from 1500 to 12000 mPa·s anda Tg of above 44° C. but lower than 70° C.
 8. The powder coatingcomposition of claim 3 wherein the curative is selected from anon-isocyanurate polyepoxide or beta-hydroxyalkylamide ortriglycidyl-isocyanurate or epoxy resins (glycidyl ethers of Bisphenol A& F or epoxy novolac resins, glycidyl esters and mixtures thereof) in aweight percent (on total polyester resin and curative) of 2.5-50.
 9. Thepowder coating composition of claim 4 wherein the curative is selectedfrom trimer of isophorone diisocyanate, trimer of hexamethylenediisocyanate, caprolactam-blocked polyisocyanate or self blockeduretdiones in a weight percent (on total polyester resin and curative)of 10 to
 65. 10. The powder coating composition of claim 7 wherein thecure temperature is lower than 180° C. and higher than 100° C.
 11. Acoated article comprising the polymeric composition of claim 10 in acured film.